Japan #1

It’s always a bit sad when vacation ends, well at least to me. This years vacation was nice, for a change we didn’t go far, almost literally as my girlfriend bought a camper that broke down more frequently than that it actually provided vacation. But off to work it is again this week. A good moment for me to show some photos of last years vacation to Japan. I’ll split it in two, first some general photos and next week a bit more Bonsai-specific.

I’ve been to quite a few countries, far away and close. Japan has obviously always been a big dream for me and despite thinking I know the country and the culture quite well nothing could have prepared me for the first culture shock. The photo above is literally that moment. Landed fresh in Narita, in the middle of the summer (read; extremely hot and humid) we started in Shibuya, my idea, and then this is the first thing you see coming out of the metro. A photo can’t ever do it justice, crowded, a bit uncanny, hot, noisy and at the same time slightly serene. Lost in translation from the get go.

Tokyo was very fun and interesting but after being worn down for four days by countless impressions we were a bit glad to go to the countryside to our Ryokan. Thank god it’s also a bit cooler outside Tokyo. In Japan a beautiful sight is never far away, so I almost wasn’t suprised to find this stunning temple and park literally just next to our Ryokan.

Our next stop, Kyoto was the place I liked most. Another example of the sheer amount of tranquillity and beauty that is so easy to find in Japan. A “simple” temple pond, just one of the many lining the street close to our hotel. Koi swimming close to your feet, cicadas chirping and clicking a symphony around you, and the ever present summer heat and humidity.

Fuji-san, on our way back to Tokyo. I jumped around our train like a todler to get this photo. I’m not a man of symbols but I’m very happy to have seen this with my own eyes.

OK just one more culture shock before going home then; electric city Akihabara.